Monday, December 22, 2014

October 2014 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)

BTS Releases October 2014 Freight Transportation
Services Index (TSI)

The Freight Transportation
Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the
for-hire transportation industry, rose 0.3 percent in October from September,
rising for the fourth consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). The October 2014
index level (121.8) was 28.8 percent above the April 2009 low during the most
recent recession.

The level of freight shipments
in October measured by the Freight TSI (121.8) reached its all-time high (Table
2A). BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000.

The
September index was revised to 121.4 from 121.5 in last month’s
release.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month
changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles,
which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire
freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking,
rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

Analysis: The growth in October
was led by trucking, rail and waterborne. During the month, several other
indicators of related parts of the economy that often impact transportation
increased. Employment and retail sales both increased, as did manufacturing
output, though total industrial production declined slightly. Inventories
increased to reach an historic high.

Trend: The Freight TSI increased
for the fourth month in a row in October, reaching an all-time high. The increase was a return to growth after a decline in
June. This October rise was the eighth monthly increase in 2014. However, due to
the decline in June and the more substantial decline in January, the total 2014
increase has been only 2.2 percent, less than the 2.8 percent increase during
same period in 2013. After dipping to 94.6 in April 2009, the index rose 28.8
percent in the succeeding 66 months.

Index highs and
lows: Freight shipments in October 2014 (121.8) were 28.8 percent
higher than the recent low in April 2009 during the recession (94.6). The
October 2014 level reached its all-time high.

Year to date:
Freight shipments measured by the index were up 2.2 percent in October
compared to the end of 2013.

1 comment:

I would have never guessed that it raised so much! Over five years, it really grew above the index level. I've never hired a freight transportation company, but find it really interesting. I'll have to see if there is something I'll ever need this for and remember to find a company to help me. I think it could end up being really beneficial. http://www.jayde.com.au/profile/